In one of the suburbs of London, on a June afternoon, a policeman was "on duty"; his attention was attracted by three men, who were going to a drinking saloon to indulge in the "pleasures of sin." On their way they made up their minds for a "lark," as they termed it, so seeing the policeman, they judged he would be a fitting object to practice their cleverness upon. One of their company, addressing him, asked if he could "give them something to do."
"Yes I can," he replied, "if you really want it."
"Very well, then, what is it?" they replied.
This policeman, through the grace of God, had learned the truth of the gospel, and it was his great delight to use opportunities like this to warn and entreat; so he told them solemnly that if they wanted something to do they should "prepare to meet thy God."
Apparently unconcerned, they passed on to the saloon. Summer had mellowed into autumn; autumn had faded into winter, and the circumstances I have related had passed away from the policeman's memory. He was again at his post of duty, when a young man accosted him, and offering a little book, asked if he would "read it."
"What about your own soul; are you right with God?" said the policeman.
The young man replied, "Yes," and asked if he recollected speaking to three young men, and recalled the incident above related, adding that the youngest of the three then stood before him. The words, "prepare to meet thy God," had pierced his inmost soul.
Wherever he went for days, weeks, months, "prepare to meet thy God, prepare to meet thy God," rang in his ears; they disturbed his conscience, and at length awoke the inquiry, "How am I to prepare?"
Then he heard the gospel preached, how that God had prepared a way for the sinner "to be made nigh" and delivered from the wrath to come, and now, in answer to the question, "Are you right with God?" he could say with a joyful heart, "Yes; all right," through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ one Calvary's cross."